WEBVTT
THE PHOTO POSTED ON SNAPCHAT
STORIES IS STIRRING UP A FIRE
STORM ON XAVIER'SAMPUS.
>> I WAS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED AND
HEARTBROKEN THAT SOMEBODY WOULD
DO SUCH A THING AND TREAT IT AS
A JOKE WHEN REAY IT'S A
SERIOUS MATTER.
TAMMY: WE'VE BLURRED THE PHOTO,
BUT YOU CAN SEE IT SHOWS A
FEMALE STUDENT PAINTED IN
BLACKFACE.
THE CAPTION READS "WHO NEEDS
WHITE WHEN BLACK LIVES MATTER."
>> I WANT PEOP TO REALIZE THIS
IS BIGGER THAN SOMEONE PATING
THEIR FACE WITH BLACK PAINT,
THIS IS HISTORY, HUNDREDS OF
YEARS OF OPPRESSION ON BELF
BLACK AND BROWN BODIES, TO
CHANNEL THAT MESSAGE MEANS
YOU'RE CHANNELING ALL THAT HURT
AND HATRED.
TAMMY: THE PHOTO HAS BEEN SAVED
AND CIRCULATED ALL OVER DORMS
AND CLASSROOMS.
>> I DEFINITELY IMMEDIATELY WAS
LIKE OH SHE MEANT IT TO BE A
JOKE, BUT WATCHING TAT KIND OF
A THING GO ON, IT'S SUCH A BIG
ISSUE IN OUCOMMUNITY SO
WATCHING IT WAS KIND OF
UPSETTING BECAUSE IT'S
DEFINITELY, IT'S HURTFUL.
TAMMY: ANOTHER PHOTO CIRCULATING
ON SOCIAL MEDIA SHOWS A SKELETON
IN AFRICAN ATTIRE HANNG FROM A
CEILING.
NIARA JONES SAYS SHE SAW THE
DISPLAY ACROSS HER DORM BEFORE
IT WAS TAKEN DOW
I THINK IT'S A VERY SCARY
THING, ESPECIALLY WAKE UP THE
MORNING AND SEE THAT.
TAMMY: XAVIER UNIVERSITY'S
PRESIDENT FATHER MI GRAHAM
RESPONDED TO THE IMAGES SAYING.
I AM OUTRAGED AND DEEPLY
TROUBLED BY RECENT RACIST IMAGES
CONNECTED TO XAVIER STUDENTS
RACIST ACTIONS ARE UNACCEPTABLE
ON OUR CAMPUS AND WE HAV
MECHANISMS TO RESPOND IN A
RESPONSIBLE AND THOUGHTFUL
MANNER.
WHEN ONE OF US FALLS SHORT, WE
ALL FALL SHORT.
IT'S UNNECESSARY, IT REALLY
IS SHOULDN'T BE A THI TO MAKE
FUN OF, AND IT SHOULDN'T BE A
JOKE.
TAMM OFFICIALS TELL ME T
STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED
AND THE ISSUES ARE BEING
ADDRESSED.
THEY UNIVERSITY'S BIAS ADVISORY
AND RESPONSE TEAM IS HAVING A
MEETING TOMORR AFTERNOON.

Racially charged images sent out on social media by Xavier University students.

The University’s president is weighing in, calling them “unacceptable.”

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The photo posted on a Snapchat story is stirring up a firestorm on Xavier’s campus.

WLWT blurred out the photo, but it shows a female student painted in blackface.

The caption reads: "Who needs white when black lives matter."

“I was absolutely shocked, and heartbroken that somebody would do such a thing, and treat it as a joke when really it’s a serious matter,” student Simone Flucker said.

“I want people to realize this is bigger than someone painting their face with black paint. This is history, hundreds of years of oppression on behalf of black and brown bodies,” student Charla Henderson said. “To channel that message means you’re channeling all that hurt and hatred.”

The photo has been saved and circulated all over dorms and classrooms.

“I definitely, immediately was like, ‘Oh she meant it to be a joke,’ but watching that kind of a thing go on, it’s such a big issue in our community, so watching it was kind of upsetting because it’s definitely, it’s hurtful,” student Abigail Bowling said.

Another photo circulating on social media shows a skeleton in African attire hanging from a ceiling.

Niara Jones said she saw the display across her dorm before it was taken down.

“I think it’s a very scary thing, especially to wake up in the morning and see that, because I live right across the hall from the person who had the Dashiki and the skeleton ,” student Niara Jones said. “It’s a very scary thing and we need to take action about it.”

Xavier University’s President Father Mike Graham responded to the images in a letter.

“I am outraged and deeply troubled by recent racist images connected to Xavier students. Racist actions are unacceptable on our campus, and we have mechanisms to respond in a responsible and thoughtful manner. When one of us falls short, we all fall short.

Many of our students, of all races, are in pain over this. Steps are being taken to make sure that all members of the Xavier community know that we must act with integrity, justice and generosity, in solidarity for and with each other. Please be assured this is being addressed on campus through a variety of channels.

I will personally continue to stay on top of this and keep you updated.”